Bonfires, banquets, music, singing and wine are set to combine to light up Orange from August 2-4 after the launch of the second annual Orange Winter Fire Festival this week.
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Tickets are now on sale for a range of events extending from bonfires across Mount Canobolas to ice sculptures and star gazing.
Orange360 general manager Caddie Marshall said they were building on the success of last year's inaugural three-day event. Check out our gallery of photos from last year's event here.
She said there would be a mix of ticketed bonfire events and private bonfires on and around Mount Canobolas on the Saturday night of the festival.
Ms Marshall said they were looking at having a hop-on hop-off bus service from Orange to enable people to see the bonfires close up.
People love the theme of fire.
- Caddie Marshall, Orange360 general manager
"People love the theme of fire and having buses that people can [use]," she said.
Ms Marshall said they were also looking at providing a map of the bonfires, which all will need to be registered with the Rural Fire Service.
Events returning include night markets in Millthorpe on the Friday plus Wassailing at Canobolas Dance Hall, a star-gazing themed event at Montoro Wines and an expanded Indigenous-themed night at Dindima Wines on the Saturday.
There will be several new events including Fire It Up at The Building, a night of music, light and art at The Building in Peisley Street, which would be used by the festival for the first time.
"Mike Carr and Kyle Manning will be performing on duelling pianos," she said.
Possibly the most unusual event for a fire festival will be a display of ice sculptures at the Agricultural Pavilion at the Showgrounds.
The Saturday night event Fire and Ice Orange will feature live music with local beer, cider and wine available plus "smokey soups, meat from the Argentinian woodfired asado grill and fiery desserts."
Several wineries and venues will also be hosting fire-themed food events.
The Oriana will host a 'campfire singalong' with cocktails on the Saturday night.
This year's event will also coincide with the Orange Readers and Writers Festival.
Ms Marshall said while the details had not yet been released she understood crime novels were a theme.
She said reading a book in front of fire place in the heart of an Orange winter fitted the fire festival's aims. Details are at the Orange Winter Fire Festival website.
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